Printing mechanism



Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNE'EED STATEE eATsNT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in printing mechanism, and particularly to mechanism of this character intended and adapted for use in printing, by the use of stencils, upon postal cards or other sheet members or material.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive mechanism for manual use in addressing and otherwise printing upon postal cards or other sheet material members, by the use of a stencil of the character illustrated in my copending application serial No. 21,858, or any other suitable type, form and construction of stencil.

Another object is to so construct the parts that my mechanism is adaptable for use with stencils of different sizes and for printing upon cards or other sheet members of different sizes, and of diiferent thicknesses.

Still another object is to provide a mechanism with which a constant and regulated flow of ink is accomplished at all times during the printing operation, and with which the supply of ink can be momentarily and completely out off, as may be desired, when the mechanism is not in use.

Another purpose is to provide for full and complete manual adjustment and control and manipulation or operation of the structure and of the various parts and portions thereof.

With the above and other objects and purposes in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then pointed out 5 in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a printing mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention and with the parts in the rela- 40 tive position they will occupy when the mechanism is in use.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the mechanism, with parts broken away to better illustrate the relative position of elements.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation to better show the printing carriage.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view to better show the 50 detachable ink fountain.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a stencil mounting frame.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top view illustrating printing registering or alignment means.

5 Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, to better show one of the work registering stops or pins.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing an address printing stencil adapted for use with my mechanism and illustrating the manner of placing a 5,

piece to be printed.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a stencil protecting plate.

The supporting base I, which is of cast metal or any other suitable material, has a flat work 10 supporting face 2 upon its top. At one side of the flat top the base member i isprovided with guideways 3 in each of which a hinge leaf 6 is slidably and adjustably fitted, clamp screws 1 being provided to be tightened against the respec- 15 tive hinge leaves to hold the same in desired adjusted position. The hinge leaves 6 carry a hinge butt or pintle 8 upon which is swingably and hingedly mounted a supporting plate 9. This supporting plate 9 is adapted to swing down upon 20 the fiat top of the supporting base member I.

The supporting plate 9 has elongated trackway members I2 and I3 mounted in substantially parallel relation upon its upper side and provided in their adjacent faces with guideway grooves 25 M and I5, which guideway grooves are spaced upwardly above the supporting plate 9 and are formed to extend parallel therewith.

A printing carriage I6 has carrying'rollers I! on opposite sides thereof extending to travel in 30 guideway's' I4 and I5 to thus hold the carriage It to travel in a plane above and substantially parallel with the supportin'g plate 9. The carriage I6 has a cradle structure I8 rockably or swingably associated therewith adjacent to one end, and this cradle structure is provided with a handle I9 to be grasped for manually moving the carriage I6 and for manually swinging the cradle structure I8.

An ink applying roller 20 is removably mounted 40 on a transverse axle on the lower part of the cradle structure I8, and an ink distributing roller 7 2i is similarly mounted in substantially parallel relation and with its surface in contact with the ink applying roller 29. An ink reservoir 22 is provided with a clip 23 to be fitted upon a part of the carriage 16 to thus removably mount the ink reservoir 22 in place adjacent to the roller 2|. This reservoir 22 has an elongated extension 24 near the bottom thereof in which is fitted a. wick so 25, or other applicator structure, and this applicator 25 is thus so positioned that when the cradle structure I8 is swung to one position the ink distributing roller 2| is in contact with the applicator to take ink therefrom. As the peripheral 5 surfaces of the rollers 2! and 2B are in contact, ink taken by the distributing roller 2I will be applied in an even film or layer upon the surface of the ink applying roller 20. In practice it has been found that the roller 2| can be made of metal or any other more or less rigid material, and that the roller 20 is best made of rubber, ink roller composition, or other suitable yieldable material.

While the supply of ink to the wick or applicator 25 can be governed and controlled in various ways, in the present instance I have shown the reservoir 22 as provided with. a filling opening 26 closed by a screw plug or cap 27, and this plug or cap 21 is provided with a vent opening 28. By tightening down the plug or cap 21, the reservoir is sealed against ingress of air and consequently the flow of ink through the applicator 25 will be stopped. When the plug or cap 21 is loosened sufficiently to uncover the vent opening 28, ingress of air to the reservoir is permitted and the ink will then flow by gravity, and doubtless also by capillary attraction through the wick or applicator 25 to the distributing roller 2 I, when the cradle is in the full line positions as indicated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a stencil mounting frame, and this frame is of substantially rectangular form to fit against the lower side of the supporting plate 9, the stencil frame 29 being provided with spring clip portions 30 received in Suitably locking openings in the supporting plate 9 to thus mount and retain the stencil holding plate 29 upon the under side of the supporting plate 9. A stencil sheet 32 can be formed or prepared in any desired or approved manner, and the stencil sheet can then be mounted between the supporting member 29 and the supporting plate 9, as shown in Fig. 2, to have the effective portion thereof exposed through opening 3| in the stencil supporting member 29 and the corresponding registering opening in the supporting plate 9.

In Fig. 9, I have illustrated a stencil member having a double fold body portion 34, and a stencil sheet 35, which stencil sheet is well adapted to have a stencil address, or other like matter, cut or formed therein by the use of a typewriter, or other suitable mechanism. With this double fold stencil body 3.4, it is possible to insert a postal card 36 between the folds and to thus position the card for application or imprinting of the address in the desired and proper location upon the front of the card. This body portion 34 has an extending tab 31 at its lower edge, and the extending tab serves expeditiously to permit proper location and centering of the stencil memher with respect to the printing mechanism.

As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, registering pins 38 canbe provided in the top 2 of the base portion I at any desired points, and it is perhaps preferable that these registering pins be mounted for endwise movement and be pressed up or elevated by means of springs 39. With the pins 38 thus spring-pressed, these pins are resiliently held in extended position, and will automatically adjust to permit closing down of the supporting plate 9. Any number of pins 38 can be provided, at any desired locations, or a. number of openings can be formed in the top of the base and the registering pins can be interchangeably fitted in different, positions as desired.

Where-anarrower stencil is to be used, it may be found. desirable to make the plate as illustrated in Fig. 10, with a relatively narrower opening through the body 39, as indicated at 40. Also, it will be found desirable to use a relatively narrower ink applying roller 20, it being preferable that the ink applying roller 20 shall be of only sufiicient width to cover the effective portion of the stencil sheet.

Where the mechanism is to be used upon materials of different thickness, and with stencil structures or frames of different thicknesses, any variations in the working conditions can be compensated for by loosening the clamp screws 1 and either raising or lowering the spring leaves 6 as these are slidably received in the openings 3, it being essential to best operation that the supporting plate 9 shall be substantially parallel with the top- 2 of the supporting base structure I, at all times during the printing operation.

By-providing a plurality of ink reservoirs 22, it will be possible to supply several colors of ink to the rollers, and with the reservoir supported by the spring clip 23, such interchangement of the parts is readily accomplished.

It is preferable that the trackway members I2 and I3 be provided with the openings 4| and 42 adjacent to the forward and rear ends of the guideways therein, which openings will receive stop pins 43 and 44 to limit movement of the carriage structure It to thus restrain the effective travel of the ink applying roller 20 substantially to the length of the effective portion of the stencil sheet.

It is a primary purpose of my invention to provide a mechanism that can be used to print upon any sheet or member, and also to print an address upon the front or address side of a postal card, and to print a message upon the back or reverse side of the card, and which machine will not require complicated mechanism or an experienced operator.

For printing the message side of the card, or for printing upon any other sheet, the operator uses a wide ink roll and a frame 29 having a wide opening. Also, the pins 43 and M are set to permit travel of the carriage over the length of theeffective stencil area. A prepared stencil is then fitted to the bottom of the supporting plate 9 and is secured in place by means of the frame 29, as shown in Fig. 2, this cover plate 29 when clipped in place serving to hold the stencil fast. When the supporting plate 9 and the portions associated therewith are raised, as

shown in Fig. 2, the operator can readily place the card or sheet of material in the proper position upon the top 2 of the supporting base I, which position will be indicated and prescribed by the register pins or guides 38. The operator then'lowers the supporting plate 9 and by ma.- nipulating the handle 59 and by swinging down the, cradle portion I8 and. then moving the carriage I6 endwise, the ink applying roller it is carried over the stencil sheet to accomplish a printing impression.

Upon completion of the printing operation, plate 9 is swung up to give access to the stencil thus printed, and at the same time the carriage I6 is cleared so that the carriage can be pulled back again to the starting point, or the carriage can be manipulated in both directions for printing operations, if circumstances and the conditions of use permit and Warrant. This opera.- tion can be successively carried out with any number of printing stencils or other members to print. upon any desired, number of. postal cards or other members.

if the operator desires to address a mailing list a narrow ink roller 20 is fitted in place and a frame 39 having a narrow opening may also be fitted to the inner side of the supporting plate 9. The stops of the carriage rails are adjusted to limit movement of the inking assembly to the length of the address stencil area. An ink fountain is fitted in place upon the carriage and the carriage is moved back and forth to distribute ink from the roller 2| onto the ink applying roller 20. With the parts thus adjusted-and prepared for operation, the operator places on the printing base a stencil having a postal card, envelope or other piece to be addressed, therein, and fits the register tab of the stencil against the registering guides or pins. The operator then closes plate 9 to the position shown in Figure l, and grasping the handle is swings the carriage I8 to a position to cause roller 20 to bear against the stencil sheet with sufficient pressure to feed ink through the stencil and apply the same upon the piece to be printed.

The operator may print the matter in as many different colors as desired by preparing a different stencil for each color and by changing the ink fountain to the desired color of ink for each particular stencil. When not in use, the ink roller assembly can be swung upwardly by rocking the cradle structure IE, to thus draw the roller 2! from the applicator 25, and the ink fountain can be closed and sealed by tightening down the plug or cap 21 to close the vent opening 28, and thus stop the flow of ink.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific constructions and arrangements of the parts and have set forth only certain embodiments and possible uses, it will be appreciated that changes and variations can be made in the form, construction, assembly, mounting and use of the parts, to suit different requirements, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base structure having a fiat top to receive and support a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side on the base structure, a carriage movable longitudinally upon said supporting plate substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting, and ink applying means supported by said carriage.

2. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base member having a smooth top portion to receive and hold a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate swingably and hingedly mounted at one of its sides along one side of the supporting member, upstanding trackways extending longitudinally in spaced apart relation upon said supporting plate, a carriage movable between said trackways in a path substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting, and ink applying means supported by said carriage.

3. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base member having a flat upper face to receive and support a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate swingably and hingedly mounted at one side upon said supporting member, trackways carried on the upper side of said supporting plate extending longitudinally thereof and substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting, a carriage mounted to travel longitudinally between said track members, ink applying means supported by said'carriage, and a handle by which said carriage is moved and the ink applying means is actuated.

4. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base structure having a flat upper surface to receive and hold a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side upon said base structure, trackways carried upon and extending longitudinally of said supporting plate to thus extend substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting, said supporting plate having an opening therethrough between the trackways, a carriage movably mounted between said trackways and over the opening, and ink applying means movably supported by said carriage to be swung to one position to apply ink through the opening of the supporting plate and to another position to be above the supporting plate.

5. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base structure having a flat upper surface to receive and hold a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side upon said base structure, trackways carried upon and extending longitudinally of said supporting plate to thus extend substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting, said supporting plate having an opening therethrough between the trackways, a carriage movably mounted between said trackways and over the opening, ink applying means movably supported by said carriage to be swung to one position to apply ink through the opening of the supporting plate and to another position to be above the supporting plate, and means to adjust the position of the supporting plate to vary the proximity .thereof to the supporting surface of the base member when the plate is swung down to thus accommodate various thicknesses of members to be printed upon.

6. A printing mechanism comprising, a base member having an upper face to reoeive'and support a member to be printed upon, a supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side upon said base member to be swung up to permit placement of the member to be printed upon, a carriage movably mounted to travel on said supporting plate in a line substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting, said plate having an opening therethrough beneath the path of travel of said carriage, means to position a stencil with respect to the member to be printed upon and substantially in line with the opening of the supporting plate, and ink applying means supported by said carriage to apply ink through the stencil when the supporting plate is swung down and the carriage is moved in a line parallel with the axis of the hinging of the supporting plate.

'7. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base member having a face to receive and support a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side upon said base member to be swung up 'to permit placement of the member to be printed upon and to be swung down to overlie the member to be printed upon, said plate having an opening therethrough adjacent to the location to be occupied by the member to be printed upon, trackways carried by said supporting plate extending on opposite sides of the opening thereof and disposed to be substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting of the plate, a carriage movable longitudinally on said trackways, and inking means supported by the carriage to apply ink through the opening of the supporting plate.

8. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base member having a face to receive and support a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side upon said base member to be swung up to permit placement of the member to be printed upon and to be swung down to overlie the member to be printed upon, said plate having an opening therethrough adjacent to the location to be occupied by the member to be printed upon, trackways carried by said supporting plate extending on opposite sides of the opening thereof and disposed to be substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting of the plate, a carriage movable longitudinally on said trackways, means to position a stencil over the member to be printed upon with the stencil accessible through the opening of the supporting plate, and means supported by and traveling with said carriage to apply link through the stencil.

9. A printing mechanism comprising, an elongated base member having a face to receive and support a member to be printed upon, an elongated supporting plate hingedly mounted at one side upon said base member to be swung up to permit placement of the member to be printed upon and to be swung down to overlie the member to be printed upon, said plate having an opening therethrough adjacent to the location to be occupied by the member to be printed upon, trackways carried by said supporting plate extending on opposite sides of the opening thereof and. disposed to be substantially parallel with the axis of the hinged mounting of the plate, a carriage movable longitudinally on said trackways, means to position a stencil over the member to be printed upon with the stencil accessible through the opening of the supporting plate, an ink roller movably supported by said carriage, ink supply means supported by the carriage, and a handle associated with said roller by which the roller is moved into an operative position to receive ink from the ink applying means and apply the ink from the roller through the stencil.

NEIL D. LUCKIE. 

